Tomlin orders Steelers to stop somersaulting into the end zone

Posted by Michael David Smith on October 15, 2013, 12:30 PM EST

AP

Steelers receiver Emmanuel Sanders caught a pass from Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday and raced toward the end zone to help Pittsburgh clinch its first win of the season, but Steelers coach Mike Tomlin didn’t like what Sanders did as he crossed the goal line.

Sanders leapt into the air and somersaulted into the end zone as he scored, and Tomlin said today that he’s putting a stop to that practice, which Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell did earlier this year. Tomlin described somersaulting into the end zone as “silly.”

“There will be no more somersault-into-the-end-zone celebrations,” Tomlin said, via Bob Labriola of Steelers Digest. “There is the potential for injury. That simple.”

Sanders looked like he was just trying to have fun, not taunt the Jets, but Tomlin is right. It’s simply not worth the risk that a bad landing could potentially cause a serious head, neck or back injury. Next time Sanders scores, he’d be better off emulating another Sanders and simply hand the ball to the official.

Correct me if I am wrong, but diving/flipping/somersaulting into the endzone without means of avoiding a tackler is also an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. That is why they shouldn’t do it. I understand the risk for injury, but it is plan disrespectful as well.

After all, who would do something stupid to celebrate a score….. like headbutt the back wall(Gus Frerrote injured neck out for the year) or jump to celebrate a field goal (Bill Gramatica injured ACL out for the year). Nooooo, these guys don’t injure themselves AT ALLLLLLL!!

Actually I feel Tomlin is absolutely right in this case. I’ve often thought the same thing as I watch these players get cute going into the EZ. It doesn’t take much to land the wrong way and get a season ending injury…even career ending in the event they would land on their head/neck the wrong way. The risk is not worth that type of celebration.

Agree on all points. The endless celebrations are so dumb. As I was watching my crappy vikes last weekend, I couldn’t believe the antics coming from the supposed leaders of that defense. You’ve got Allen ropin imaginary calves and greenway high kicking like he’s one of the Rockettes. All the while, they were absolutely getting their asses handed to them by Cam and the Carolina panthers. As far as the somersault, each time I saw the replay, I kept expecting sanders to need help from the trainers to get off the field. 7 times out of 10 a guy will get injured pulling a stunt like that.

The Steelers aren’t the only team that has players doing summersalts and stupid things in the end zone. However, I’m glad Tomlin did put his foot down and said no more antics. Should be a great rivalry game this week with the Ratbirds! I don’t care what record we have. Our division so far this year isn’t very good so the Steelers aren’t out of it just yet.

Somersaults into the end zone over five games add up to a whole two: by Le’veon Bell and Emmanuel Sanders.
Even more irritating is Antonio Brown’s constant “first-down” antics, regardless of the score. I’ve never seen more showboats on a team that’s 9-13 over its previous 22 games. Wish these guys would tone it down and start acting a little more humble during such problematic times.

There’s no bigger Steeler fan than me, but this team has absolutely no leadership among the players. The departures of Bettis, Ward, Smith, Farrior and others have left them with a group of young, immature, me-first players that wasn’t tolerated in the past. Veterans like Polamolu and Miller need to step up and be more vocal. Banning ping pong isn’t the answer.

The celebrations are all dumb. All of them. Some are just look at me self promotions, some taunt the other team and some are injuries waiting to happen. Celebrate a team win instead of an individual(‘s) play. There is very little professionalism in professional sports.

buckybadger says:
Oct 15, 2013 12:38 PM
You shouldn’t be so happy you are beating a team like the Jets for your first win of the year.
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Loving the double standard. This time last week the Steelers were predicted to be at 0-5 because Geno Smith, fresh off his spanking of the Atlanta Falcons, was going to pick them apart with his precision passing and the No. 2 defense was going to kill Ben. I’m sure this time next week, if the Steelers win vs. BAL then that will be discredited too.

To be fair, I agree. Sanders’ (and Brown’s) celebrations are completely unnecessary. Sack dances are ok because they don’t happen as much, but Antonio’s habit of celebrating every first down is annoying.

Not only is there potential for injuries but also a penalty. Going to the ground is technically no longer allowed after a TD. I can’t remember which game it was last week but the refs ignored a player doing that right in front of them should have been a 15 yards unsportsmanlike penalty.

I’m not hoping for it, but there will come the day when some idiot player seriously injures himself during a touchdown celebration only to find out that the touchdown has been nullified by penalty or booth review. Maybe that will help to bring an end to these ridiculous celebrations.

They don’t see the end zone much and when the do its should call for a 4th of July celebration. Have to agree with Tomlin, celebrating is a me type thing. No need for it. I would start fining guys 100k needless celebrations

Correct me if I am wrong, but diving/flipping/somersaulting into the endzone without means of avoiding a tackler is also an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. That is why they shouldn’t do it. I understand the risk for injury, but it is plan disrespectful as well.
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I think that rule only applies to college football.

bad news bigbenowns. in one more game played the ravens defense has allowed only 13 more points than the vaunted steeler defense. so the steelers are giving up more points per game. so try again. but not with the offense. ravens have scored 46 more points. weak arguement from bigbenowns aside, stats are out the window in these games. looking forward to another classic

– Six Lombardi trophies and lovin’ every minute of it. Besides your obvious jealousy of Pittsburgh’s success, what’s your point ?
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So, are you “lovin every minute” of this season?

Flipping into the endzone during the game that you were 0-5 heading into is akin to when my Lions play the team fight song after kicking a meaningless 4th q field goal when they are are the recieving end of a blowout

Flipping into the endzone during the game that you were 0-5 heading into is akin to when my Lions play the team fight song after kicking a meaningless 4th q field goal when they are are the recieving end of a blowout
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YOUR LIONS??? LOL

If they were your Lions, you’d know we are leading the NFC North right now! 🙂

I like seeing a team that is doing well getting excited about it. It is entertaining when there is a genuine display of joy playing the game. However, the contrived, “look-at-me” antics and the premeditated dances are just stupid. If you have played like garbage all year or if you are in a game where the other team is stomping a mudhole in you and walking it dry it is time to focus on getting things on track. You get paid millions of dollars to take that football 300 feet or less into the scoring area. If you succeed in doing so, you’ve done your job.

Could you imagine a janitor spiking his mop and then doing the Douggie after finishing the hallway? How about your mechanic tightening on your lug nuts by doing a flip? A lawyer spinning his briefcase after a successful litigation?

buckybadger says:
Oct 15, 2013 12:38 PM
You shouldn’t be so happy you are beating a team like the Jets for your first win of the year.
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Steeler’s Didn’t-but-Will-eventually says:
Oct 15, 2013 1:38 PM
Loving the double standard. This time last week the Steelers were predicted to be at 0-5 because Geno Smith, fresh off his spanking of the Atlanta Falcons, was going to pick them apart with his precision passing and the No. 2 defense was going to kill Ben. I’m sure this time next week, if the Steelers win vs. BAL then that will be discredited too.

To be fair, I agree. Sanders’ (and Brown’s) celebrations are completely unnecessary. Sack dances are ok because they don’t happen as much, but Antonio’s habit of celebrating every first down is annoying.

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You missed my point. The Steelers aren’t a franchise that should be celebrating because they got their first win in week 6. That isn’t how that franchise runs. I am not discrediting the win but simply stating that no one associated with the Steelers should be celebrating anything right now. It isn’t their style to be happy at 1-5 or even 2-5. The win is great and they can build on that but lets not act like they are any where near they want to be.

Is it a double standard? Yes of course it is. You aren’t the Jaguars who are just trying not to go 0-16, you are a respected franchise. I am a Packer fan I would hold my team to the same standard as I am the Steelers right now.

I don’t mind celebrations but only when there is something to celebrate. Broncos can dance all they want and Chiefs live it up because it doesn’t last forever. When you are a storied franchise and are performing far below the norm I think its best just to hand the ball over and concentrate on getting better. No one’s job is safe over their right now and I would worry about the film I am producing more than my celebration dance.

I don’t have a problem with the team being given happy to have finally won a game. If u can’t be happy about that then what’s the point? But I totally agree with Tomlin for reasons of injury as well as being classless. And why r people criticizing Tomlin for banning that? Banning something that could lead to injury IS a benefit to the team as opposed to allowing it and sum1 gets injured and it HURTS the team!

Sorry, I missed the part in the article about Tomlin losing sleep. The biggest issue this team has is lack of discipline and leadership. Tomlin is providing both. I believe that is called: His job.
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There you go again saying you thought. Everyone on this thread knows a troll like you doesn’t think rather posts in a frenzy going back and forth between screen names like a squirrel looking for hidden nuts….amusing and pathetic there joeflaccomontana .

The biggest issue this team has is lack of discipline and leadership. Tomlin is providing both.

I believe that is called: His job.

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First & foremost I think his main job is winning football games.

Looks like he ain’t doing his job after all, ain’t it?

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First and foremost Tomlin is a coach not a player . Second his coaching resume in the NFL is much better than yours. Finally, the steelers have burned a lot of you haters as so many of you are coming out of the woodwork, under rocks, and under bridges to bash on the steelers. No problem, I ll take your bandwagon crap until we get back to a place you have never been AGAIN.

There you go again saying you thought. Everyone on this thread knows a troll like you doesn’t think rather posts in a frenzy going back and forth between screen names like a squirrel looking for hidden nuts….amusing and pathetic there joeflaccomontana .
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And that would make you correct one less time than the Steelers have won games this season.

There is no reason for any player who is going into the endzone UNCONTESTED to leave his feet in any manner. Somersaulting is selfish and is taunting just as the rest of the ways taunting has been interpreted by this wuss league.

The only time a player should not be penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct when crossing the goal line off his feet is by diving to the pylon, jumping over a blocker or an offensive line in a goal line situation, or being tackled into the endzone.

bigfool:
The complaint about Brown reaches well beyond myself. The radio talk shows have been besieged with complaints about Brown and his obnoxious showboating. If you lived within a 500-mile radius of Pittsburgh, you might actually know the pulse of my prune-juice consuming city.
How’s things in Virginia?
Steelers-less, I bet…

bobzilla1001 says:
Oct 15, 2013 6:26 PM
bigfool:
The complaint about Brown reaches well beyond myself. The radio talk shows have been besieged with complaints about Brown and his obnoxious showboating. If you lived within a 500-mile radius of Pittsburgh, you might actually know the pulse of my prune-juice consuming city.
How’s things in Virginia?
Steelers-less, I bet…

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Report comment. Big prune sucker, things are a little rainy here in gods country midst the horses,hay, and tourists. Plenty of prune less steeler fans proudly taking it on the chin for supporting Ben. Sorry you are still waiting on Beethovens fifth, but if the prunes don’t work try drains.

By the way, I agree put the ball in the refs hand, but come on with the change in the maturity level of the NFL his action reflects the steelerBen crowds maturity level.

Celebrating a sack, tackle for loss, first down, TD, or a turnover is nothing more then showboating(winning, losing, blowing out, or getting blown out all apply). I can see some celebrating if it’s a career milestone, but keep it classy(the classic fist pump is a classy move). All these look-at-me tactics from any team is tiresome, that would make me stop watching football before all these crappy rule changes.

There you go again saying you thought. Everyone on this thread knows a troll like you doesn’t think rather posts in a frenzy going back and forth between screen names like a squirrel looking for hidden nuts….amusing and pathetic there joeflaccomontana .

You missed my point. The Steelers aren’t a franchise that should be celebrating because they got their first win in week 6. That isn’t how that franchise runs. I am not discrediting the win but simply stating that no one associated with the Steelers should be celebrating anything right now. It isn’t their style to be happy at 1-5 or even 2-5. The win is great and they can build on that but lets not act like they are any where near they want to be.

Is it a double standard? Yes of course it is. You aren’t the Jaguars who are just trying not to go 0-16, you are a respected franchise. I am a Packer fan I would hold my team to the same standard as I am the Steelers right now.

I don’t mind celebrations but only when there is something to celebrate. Broncos can dance all they want and Chiefs live it up because it doesn’t last forever. When you are a storied franchise and are performing far below the norm I think its best just to hand the ball over and concentrate on getting better. No one’s job is safe over their right now and I would worry about the film I am producing more than my celebration dance.
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I would love to see that work ethic as well, but the fact is these are kids that often get caught up in the moment. If he continues to be a jackhole after his coach publicly tells him to stop, then I have no problems with Sanders sitting out a game to learn his lesson. You won’t see Heath Miller somersaulting into the endzone, for one he might break a hip, two he’s an experienced vet and knows better. I have zero problems with a player celebrating a ‘meaningful’ TD (non-garbage time) in any game no matter the record. In this case Sanders was admittedly over the top about scoring a TD that extended his team’s first lead of the season since being up 2-0 in week one. It was celebration-worthy, but I miss the days when spiking the football in the endzone was enough celebration. On the other hand, Antonio Brown needs to learn that first downs should be considered a little more business-as-usual.